David had his Absalom,
Paul had his Demas, who abandoned him, and Alexander the coppersmith,
who "had done him much harm."
Jesus had Iscariot.

We know all about Judas,
so the story holds no drama for us.
We forget that Jesus chose Judas after praying all night.
They spent every day together for three years, talking, eating together, and laughing. Jesus sent him out in ministry. Judas shared in the miracle of feeding 5,000 people; his hands took the small, round barley loaves from Jesus and tore off hunks of bread for hungry people.

What makes each case of betrayal so painful is that someone who knows your heart—who knows your longings and character—turns from that and chooses to believe you are really dangerous.

The mind freezes as it tries to grasp how a friend, someone who knew you deeply, intimately,
could turn on you and attack you.

The singer songwriter Michael Card vividly captures the agony in one song:

"Only a friend can betray a friend,A stranger has nothing to gainAnd only a friend comes close enoughto ever cause so much pain."

Betrayal, I've noticed, calls good evil.
It twists a person's true spiritual endowments into something negative, a saintly deficiency or psychological problem. Betrayal causes leaders to not want to trust, to not want to be involved in anything called church, to not be vulnerable, to not open their spirits in worship to God.

Don't give up!
You may be tempted to flee, to turn your back on your call. You are walking where great people have walked before. They are remembered as great because they did not allow the betrayal to stop them. Instead they learned how to turn their pain into greater usefulness for the Lord.What does it mean to slander?
To make a false and malicious statement that damages somebody’s reputation.
To set somebody or something up in opposition to somebody or something else.

But another definition of slander is to take about someone with the intent to hurt them. To whisper and hiss subtle, condescending, suggestive thoughts that someone is ”missing the real deal.”

II Timothy tells us that in the last days there will be slanderers and false accusers spreading innuendoes and criticism and reporting things unjustly about others.

Scorpions carry poison in their tails;Snakes carry it in their cheeks,And slanderers carry it in their tongues.

Character assassination is an intentional attempt to influence the portrayal or reputation of a particular person, whether living or a historical personage, in such a way as to cause others to develop an extremely negative, unethical or unappealing perception of him or her. By its nature, it involves deliberate exaggeration or manipulation of facts to present an untrue picture of the targeted person. For living individuals, this can cause the target to be rejected by his or her community, family, or members of his or her living or work environment. Such acts are typically very difficult to reverse or rectify, therefore the process is correctly likened to a literal assassination of a human life. The damage sustained can be life-long and more, or for historical personages, last for many centuries after their death.

In practice, character assassination usually consists of the spreading of rumors and deliberate misinformation on topics relating to one's morals, integrity, and reputation.

If the devil has any servants that he values the most, are they slanderers or gossips?
I believe they are!

Charles Spurgeon said,"A lie will go around the worldwhile truth is still puttingon its boots."

Think about that!

In Psalm 15 David speaks such a powerful lesson about THE PERSON who can truly ascend to a place of Walking with God in a holy high place.

Psalm 15: 1-5

A psalm of David.

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous,who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue,who does his neighbor no wrong, and casts no slur on his fellowman,Who despises a vile man, but honors those who fear the LORD,who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usuryand does not accept a bribe against the innocent.He who does these things will never be shaken.

If you will notice…this type of person cannot be shaken.
That does not mean that he or she will not be sorely tested, or at times falsely accused or slandered. It meant that these things would not shake them from the knowledge that they walk with God in His Holy Presence SAFELY and confidently even though pressures and pain attack them!

The Lord is a protector……and a refuge from slander and accusations!

How great is your goodness,which you have stored up for those who fear you,which you bestow in the sight of menon those who take refuge in you.

In the shelter of your presence you hide themfrom the intrigues of men;in your dwelling you keep them safefrom accusing tongues.Psalm 31:19-20I encourage you to spend much much time in worship
and in hiding the word of God in your heart. These two weapons act like shields to the soul when attacks and false accusations are unleashed towards you. There will always be those who gain power and prestige for a season through the use of slander or subtle suggestions that imply that you have some how “gone off the rails” and have become a lesser saint!The Lord strongly addressed this in the following verses:“Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,him will I put to silence;

Whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart,him will I not endure.” Psalm 101:5

"Do not go about spreading slander among your people.Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life.I am the LORD."Leviticus 19:16

Servant of God! DO NOT let fear grip you and paralyze the Lord’s voice calling to you to serve Him freely!

No man or woman has the authority to tell you to not speak in the Name of Jesus if you are moving from a pure heart and a pure motive!

Of Course…you may thoroughly be discussed behind your back and dissected as to why you speak out or flow in the way the Lord might well call you to do!

But remember to be certain it is the Lord that asked you to speak out ...
...And then you are able to simply;“Keep a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

1 Peter 3:16

Remember this, obedient child of God:When we are slandered, we answer kindly."Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth ,the refuse of the world."1 Corinthians 4:13Love lived out and expressed honestly in the hearts that have felt the sting of slander and yet choose to forgive, do a greater work in the name of Jesus and for His Kingdom, than a thousand voices that may shout against injustice or religious forms and practices.

NOTE:

This Message also has a lovely Prophetic Song of the Lord titled "The Promise of Father" which plays immediately at the end of the podcast. Please take a few extra minutes and let the Holy Spirit sing over you and speak words of confirmation and hope into your heart.

By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit

As the days begin to change and the seasons take their course, so am I also beginning to adjust the path you have been treading out.

I have been keeping track of all of your sorrows, Collecting them and all of your tears in a bottle. I have written down your tearful sorrows in My journal
Psalm 56:8

Many have passed you by on the road of sorrow that you have had to bear, too busy to stop and comfort, too concerned about what others might think of your condition. Others are only focused on their own forms of grief and have yet to learn to comfort others in their weariness and tiredness. I have encouraged all of you when others are happy, be happy with them!
If they are sad, share their sorrow. (Romans 12:15) Even the Samaritan, one least likely to reach out, stopped and cared for the man battered, hurt, and sorrowful left on the road.

Many who claim spiritual piety and goodness turn their heads and hearts when they see another brother or sister aching in sorrow or tragedy. Let it not be heard about you my child in the heavenly realm, that you protected your own comforts or your own position and turned away from a brother or sister in their prolonged agony.

I have been testing the hearts of many who lay claim to a willingness to do anything I ask of them, but sadly then “pass on the other side" in order to avoid involvement with what "appears to be" one who is struggling or failing. As you do to others, so in your time of need will it be done to you! I your faithful Redeemer have heard the heart wrenching cries from your prayers and I am even now giving you strength and empowerment to stay firm and continue to believe that I will restore all to you that has been shattered, stolen, or shamed!

"It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ has commissioned us, He anointed us!"
2 Corinthians 1:21

I have anointed you even in this season of sorrow!
And I will bring a fresh and pure expression of Godly living and giving into the earth through those we who see that they are being prepared as good Samaritans and who themselves are also being cared for by others who require nothing in repayment.

Many are hearing my voice calling to them to bring relief to those who have been faithful in obeying my voice, But have been persecuted heavily for doing so! Obey my command quickly! Act now!
Bless them, help them heal, providing for them like I would! You will be greatly rewarded for this effort.

As you give them even a cup of cold water in my name, You have done it for me!
Matthew 10:42

As you have been faithful to believe that I have better plans and a better way than the schemes of men, very soon I will wipe away your bitter tears and despair.
You have begun to understand what it is to fellowship with My sufferings!

In the days ahead, you will also share in the first fruits of harvest."God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."
1 Corinthians 1:9 COME JUST A LITTLE NEARER TO MY HEART NOW. THE NIGHT IS NEARLY OVER.

You will see that the time of sorrow and weeping will pass, and a breaking through into the greater plan for you is in motion.

I have been into the future for I AM all that you will need.

Your one simple act of obedience sets into motion waves of my redemptive grace and pure holy cleansing. The Nations are waiting for those who will only speak out of clean motives and pure hearts. I have prepared you for this time in the earth and I will fulfill all I have planned concerning you.

Enter in by humbling yourself further by doing simple acts of mercy and selfless giving.Remaining anointed… … Even in times of sorrow.

Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that complete source and website information for Mary Lindow is included.

About Me

Mary has a passion for encouraging others in all generations and careers or vocations to live and express excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills.
Mary has been known as a versatile talent since her early teenage years. She has been a keynote inspirational and humorous speaker and teacher throughout the United States, Africa, England, France, Australia,The Netherlands, Canada, and Germany, in Ministers conferences, International Spiritual leaders Conferences, and in National and International training seminars for various organizations.
Mary has been involved in private and public leadership relationship team building settings among many people groups in various nations, often meeting with local dignitaries and governmental leaders.
Mary has been featured as a singing and speaking guest on local and national Christian television programs as well as being involved in television production, hosting and performing as a vocalist.
Mary has sung in concert with renowned Christian recording artists like Larnelle Harris and has been a vocal talent for local and international jingle productions.